‘Self-indulgent’ Stokes retirement slammed amid England mess
England captain Ben Stokes shocked the cricket world by retiring in the middle of his side’s third and final Test match against New Zealand in a move that has been labelled “self-indulgent” and “disgraceful” on social media.
The all-rounder informed his teammates on day four against the Black Caps that it would be his final international game, with the news confirmed by the ECB.
Ben Stokes. Getty
He leaves the international scene as a modern-day England great who left his mark on countless momentous contests, many of them in Ashes series.
Stokes’ announcement came during the tea break and the crowd found out as he came into the attack to bowl one of his trademark fierce spells.
A standing ovation followed before he then took a wicket with the first ball he bowled after the England and Wales Cricket Board published the announcement.
Black Caps tail-ender Zak Foulkes was the man dismissed, edging to Harry Brook at second slip.
“Can you believe it?,” Michael Atherton said on Sky Sports Cricket.
After the visitors declared at Trent Bridge, Stokes then went into open the batting and hit a quickfire 30 off 20 balls before getting out.
The New Zealand-born cricketer had only revealed the news to his teammates earlier in the day, telling them “this is my last two days as your captain, my last two days as representing England”.
“Reasons can wait, why, but I’ve had many trips to the well before, for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand, and I’ve got one more trip to do, and the only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone please just do the same,” he said, in a change room video released along with the retirement announcement.
“We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off at the end of that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group of men – and one lady – give everything for the last two days.
“And the only thing I want is just for everyone to give it, not only for me selfishly, but also for this team and everything else.”
While there have been plenty of plaudits coming Stokes’ way since the surprise announcement, there are also question marks and criticism surrounding the way both he and England went about it in the middle of a must-win game.
The video shared on social media from inside the locker room showed a dejected Stokes coming to grips with his decision that could have inspired the team.
However, not everyone enjoyed the song-and-dance with a Test on the line, especially when England finished 4-103 at stumps, facing an enormous run chase on day five against a resurgent Kiwi outfit.
The Observer journalist Paul Hayward described the situation as “very odd” and he wasn’t alone, with other UK media figures criticising Stokes’ timing.
The decision comes just weeks after Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson were caught up in another early morning nightclub incident in London – not his first off-field indiscretion – prompting talk of a possible booze ban for the team.
A slew of former captains said the incident was misguided but shouldn’t be a sackable offence, pushing back against many questioning Stokes’ role.
The incident followed notoriously boozy tours of Australia and New Zealand.
Ben Stokes during the England side's ill-fated Noosa trip during the Ashes. 927mixfm/Instagram
Years earlier, he was charged but later acquitted over a late-night incident in 2017.
Speaking at the close of play, Stokes said recent conversations with his wife about his will to continue playing at the highest level made his decision clear.
“Over the last five or six weeks, it was [off-field incident] something else that I felt like I had to overcome,” the captain told Sky Sports.
“The emotional side of this since Australia, the way I said it to me (sic) wife was I don’t think I’ve got any more fight left in me to get over this.
“This is brutal what we do - physically, mentally and all that - it’s getting a bit tiring.
“There’s so many things that have led me towards knowing this is the right decision - the emotional side, the physical side and the mental side.”
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said Stokes’ contribution to the game would be celebrated for many years to come.
Ben Stokes walks out through a guard of honour. Getty Images
“Ben Stokes has made an immeasurable contribution to English cricket, not only through his exceptional skill as one of the world’s finest all-rounders, but through the commitment, resilience and passion he has demonstrated throughout his international career,” he said.
“His influence has extended far beyond statistics - inspiring teammates, supporters and young cricketers around the world through his leadership and unwavering desire to win.
“We are enormously grateful for his service to England and congratulate him on an extraordinary international career.”
England require 270 runs to win the third Test and the series over New Zealand, but only have six wickets in hand with Stokes, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett all dismissed before the close of play on Monday (AEST).
